(date('01.01.2016') < date('25.12.2015')) === true
string date ( string $format [, int $timestamp = time() ] )
$first = DateTime::createFromFormat('d.m.Y', '01.01.2016');
$second = DateTime::createFromFormat('d.m.Y', '25.12.2015');
var_dump($first < $second);
var_dump(strtotime('01.01.2016') < strtotime('25.12.2015'));